Hyderabad, February 03: Are Animal Welfare Board’s norms preventing the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials efforts in curbing stray dog menace? Well, it seems so since they have not been able to tackle the increasing menace of stray dogs in the city.
Dr P Venkateswara Reddy, chief veterinary officer (CVO) of GHMC told Express that with uncontrolled breeding among dogs, it is becoming difficult for GHMC staff to rehabilitate stray dogs. “Even as we receive many complaints from residents, we are unable to take severe action except giving vaccination to prevent rabies. Section 428 and 429 of IPC and guidelines issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) prohibit cruelty to animals,” he said.
Meanwhile, the GHMC is receiving more than 200 complaints through emails and phone from the public every day on the stray dogs menace in various localities in the twin cities. For instance, Boda Surekha, a 28-year-old housewife living at Nehrunagar near Mallapur, was critically injured in an attack by stray dogs two days ago. In another incident, a 49-day-old infant was mauled to death by stray dogs at Rangannaguda of Vanasthalipuram.
The infant, whose parents are migrant labourers were sleeping inside a hut when the attack happened.
“The GHMC has provided adequate material such as nets, vehicles and staff members. GHMC staff can reach the spot within 30 minutes if they receive a complaint on stray dogs menace. We have given more than 35,000 vaccinations to stray dogs to prevent spread of rabies. However, there are more than 2 lakh stray dogs in the twin cities,’’ Reddy said.
He added that as per recommendations of Animal Birth Control (ABC), sterilisation of dogs was the only solution to control the stray dog population and not mass extermination.
“To implement the ABC programme, GHMC will set up a sterilisation centre for Rs.1.60 crore at Amberpet. The clinic would be equipped with surgical instruments and temporary shelters for dogs after the sterilisation. We also need to purchase vehicles to transport the canine population to the centre,’’ he informed.
—Agencies